The Global Peace Initiative of Women was voted by the members and visitors of Universe Spirit as our November Organization of the month.
The Global Peace Initiative of Women (GPIW) is an international, multi-faith network of women leaders who come together to stimulate peace building and reconciliation efforts in areas of conflict and post-conflict. These women, from the religious, government and civic sectors of society, share two primary goals: to bring alternative resources, be they spiritual, economic or educational, to aid in healing conflict; and to relieve the social and economic stresses that lead to violence. The organization was founded on the premise that women today have a special contribution to make in finding alternatives to violence. Our work aims to foster respect for all peoples on Earth and for the Earth's natural environment. We highlight humanity's shared values, even as we profoundly appreciate the diversity of human culture and belief. We realize the importance of transmitting such values to the next generation. Thus, in our sacred work, we place special emphasis on cultivating interfaith understanding and developing leadership in young adults around the world.
The Global Peace Initiative is a partnership of women and men who see the urgency of tapping into the resources of women, and listening to their perspectives as we try together to create a more caring and compassionate world community.
On October 7, 2002, more than 600 women leaders from religion, business, government and civil society convened at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, to develop concrete steps for engaging women more prominently in peace building. Women came from more than 70 countries and from all the major faith traditions. They came with a great sense of urgency, and a commitment to find new ways of resolving conflicts without the use of violence.
Many of those attending raised questions over the role they, as individuals, could play in rebuilding communities and bridging the differences in regions of conflict halfway across the world. When confronted directly with the experiences of women from Rwanda, South Africa, Bosnia, Afghanistan, the Middle East and Cambodia, they were surprised by their own feelings of unity and the strength of those newly developed bonds. "In Geneva, we were inspired by the resourcefulness and compassion of these women," said one delegate from the United States. "We saw immediately how we could help. Our resources and skills can make a difference." Emotions ran high as women from areas of conflict spoke of the impact of war on their lives, their families and societies. These sessions put a human face on war.
One unique feature of the gathering was the conviction that inner reflection and prayer can be a global force for change. The coupling with spiritual and economic activity can become a powerful formula for healing, reconciliation and the transformation of hostility into peaceful coexistence and cooperation.
Thus the Global Peace Initiative of Women (GPIW) was born, under the direction of an international group of women religious leaders, who participated in the Millennium World Peace Summit that was held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, in August 2000. As an outcome of the Summit, the GPIW expands the scope of the collaboration of religious leaders with peace building activities of international organizations, creating programs that promote the well being of women and offer opportunity for their development and leadership. Our goal is to bring spiritual, economic and educational resources together to aid in the reduction of poverty and the social stresses that lead to conflict. The GPIW was founded on the premise that women can offer new approaches to the resolution of crises by fostering a more sharing and communal attitude.
Building a Worldwide Network of Women Peace Builders
Since the Global Peace Initiative of Women was founded by a group of women of deep spiritual commitment, its first outreach was to gathers together ministers and bishops, Catholics and Buddhist nuns, rabbis, swamis and scholars of religion to use the power of spirituality to help address global problems. Its unique contribution is the joining of these religious leaders with women from business, government and education so that economic, spiritual, educational and political mechanisms can work together for social change.
The GPIW brings together women from all sectors of civil society and has developed projects in partnership with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) in its effort to supplement the resources of international organizations and expand on-the-ground programs that strengthen civil society. It endorses the Millennium Development Goals established by the United Nations, and seeks to develop projects that can help societies achieve these objectives.
Although the GPIW is a global network of women, many men have also rallied to its support and participate in its events and programs. In this way, our aim is to build a partnership in which women and men participate equally, supporting each other in a common quest for peace and the social, economic, and environmental conditions that will make peace sustainable.
For more information on The Global Peace Initiative of Women please visit: http://www.gpiw.org/
For latest news and press information of GPIW please see: http://www.gpiw.org/news_geneva.html